ATC - Academy of Languages and Training Canada: December 2007

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Japanese Tradition 2

Have you ever seen these gorgeous rice cakes?
This is one of Japanese traditional costoms to celebrate New Year.
This is round rice cakes offered to the god at New Year's time.
We call it Kagami-mochi.

We display Kagami-mochi during New Year holidays to appreciate that we had a safety year last year, and we are having a brand-new year. We offer Kagami-mochi to the god during New Year, and we eat it after New Year. We call it Kagami-Biraki. We usually have Kagami-Biraki on January 11th.
People say that when we eat Kagami-mochi on Kagami-Biraki day, we recieve power from the god.
Because eating Kagami-mochi after offering to the god means the god gives us the thankful Kagami-mochi.

We decorate Kagami-mochi as like the picture. And each decoration has meaning:

Sanpou is a table to put Kagami-mochi.
When we give something to precious person, we should put it on a table. We put Kagami-mochi on Sanpou because the god is precious for us. This is the polite way to offer Kagami-mochi to the god.

Urajiro is a plant called fern. We believe that fern is an auspicious plant because the leaves of fern grow one after another. It reminds us prosperity of our business.

Shihoubeni is a sheet of square shaped paper to put Kagami-mochi. The paper is white colour, and the edge is red colour. White paper stands for our land. And We believe red colour avoids evils. So, Shihoubeni means saving our land from disasters.

Gohei is strings of square shaped white paper and red paper. By connecting them and making them longer, it reminds us of prospering business or something. And the red parts of the Gohei also mean avoiding evils.

Daidai is a sour orange. Daidai grow on trees and they hardly fall from the trees. So, Daidai stands for prosperity of our families.

Kagami-mochi is a holy rice cakes that mediate between the god and us. If you go to Japan during New Year holidays, you will find Kagami-mochi everywhere! We display them with our appreciations and wishes.

Isn't it interesting? They are not just rice cakes. The rice cakes are saving us!

By Kurumi

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Japanese Tradition

About 2 more weeks to 2008!!

Do you have traditional customs to celebrate New Year in your country?
We have a lot of traditional customs to celebrate New Year in Japan.

I will talk about Kadomatsu which is displayed in front of house, shrine, and other buildings during the New Year holidays.
Kadomatsu is New Year's decorative pine branches.

Generally, Kadomatsu is made with 3 bamboos surrounded with pine tree needles, and tie them with straw ropes. But people add some flowers or ornaments nowadays.
Kadomatsu is a sign to invite the god of the year.
And when the god is invited, the god will live in it.

We start displaying Kadomatsu around December 10th.
But we have to be carefull NOT to display it on December 29th or 31st. Do you know why? The reasons are interesting:

We pronounce 29 as "nijuku" in Japanese. We have a word "二重苦" and we also pronounce it "nijuku". "二重苦" means "suffer twice". So, people say that 29 is inauspicious number. That's why we shouldn't display Kadomatsu which invites the god on December 29th. If we display it on December 29th, we may suffer from something.

If we display Kadomatsu on December 31st, it is very rude to the god. Because December 31st is the day before New Year. Displaying Kadomatsu on December 31st means we didn't have enough time to prepare to invite the god. We should treat the god very well. That's why we shouldn't display Kadomatsu on December 31st.

So, we have to display Kadomatsu until December 28th at the latest.
In case we can't display it until December 28th, we should display it on December 30th. We have to make sure not to display it on December 29th or 31st.

However, we can hardly find Kadomatsu nowadays. People don't want to take time or spend money for it. Some people still display it, but others don't display it any more. We have been losing our tradition in present day life in Japan. But I'm sure you will find real Kadomatsu at shrines during New Year holiday in Japan.

If you have a chance to visit Japan during New Year holiday, please look for this Japanese tradition!

By Kurumi

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

What is your favorite movie about Christmas?

My favorite movie about Christmas is "Jingle All the Way".

It is a comedy movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It is not a popular movie, but I really like this movie.

Arnold Schwarzenegger acts a man who is very busy for his business.

He has a son. He always breaks his promises with his son because he is too busy for his job.

One day, he missed his son's Karate match, so his son was very depressed.

Then he promised to buy Turbo Man doll as a Christmas gift for his son.

Turbo Man is a toy that every child wants. It's the hottest action figure among children.

When he promissed to buy it, his son was so happy and excited.

But he noticed that he forgot to buy Turbo Man doll on Christmas Parade day.

He broke his promise to go to Christmas parade with his family, and ran around the city to buy Turbo Man doll.

However, he couldn't find it in any toy store. Because it's so popular, so it's sold out.

In the climax, He took a chance to be a real Turbo Man in the Christmas Parade.

The real Turbo Man can choose one child and can give a Turbo Man doll in front of the crowd.

He used this opportunity, then he presented a Turbo Man doll to his son in the crowd.

His son was very proud of his father because his father was a real Turbo Man!

And that night, He noticed that he forgot to buy a Christmas gift for his wife.

I think it is very interesting movie.

I like Arnold Schwarzenegger in this movie very much.

By Kurumi

Christmas Party

We had a christmas party at our school -ATC- last Friday.

I hadn't expected that it would be a fun time.

Fortunately we had a great time with my expection.

We had pizza , toppogi , salada , western style red been mochiko, chips , cheets , Japanese rice crackers , and pop....haha

It's strange combination.

We played a game called 3-6-9.This game is popular in Korea(?)

You say a number starting with 1 and go around.

Your number to say is 3 , 6 or 9 , you crap your hands instead of saying the number.

If you make a mistake, there is a punishment.

We decided our punishment that was to bring a handsome man or a cute woman from the school next door.

Sadly I made a mistake at first. I had hasitated to visit next door but I went.

I found a nice looking and kind man over there. He willingly came to our school with me.

We made many mistakes and people working in next door were really cooperative.

We apprreciate them alot.

We changed our punishment , and it was to choose partner and dance. If the person who was chosen refuse, he or she should dance by himself or herself.

It was supposed to be a embarrassed punishment.......

LOOK AT THIS PICTURE!!!!!

He looks really happy!!!even he made a mistake!!!!!!!!!

He was in heaven!

This Friday,we had to say good bye to our friends.....

We had a great memory with them. Have a safe trip, friends.

by Yoshi

What is your way to improve speaking and listening skills?

Most of you might have decided to study abroad to increase of speaking and listening skills rather than the rest two parts-writing and reading in English. By exposure yourself in English immersion environment you will acquire practical experience with association of local people. However, what I have gone though is that just stay in English speaking country not helpful for international student. At the first time just stay in foreign country seems interest and fun but by time goes on you will lose the passion to mingle with native speaker and more hang out and come close with same ethnic friends. Some of my friends grumble for getting worse of their speaking and listening.

I suggest one tip to improve speaking and listening. You have mp3 or portable tape player that are usually using for enjoying music rather for your English study. First choose interesting topics that will never become dull in internet website and down load sound file to your portable devise and shadow the spoken work and dictate all sentences as long as you can understand. It is not easy job but by repeating the process you will fell your progression within a week. If you keep this work around on month you would aware yourself highly have improved in speaking and listening. After that go to movie and test your ability. Do not be surprised with your capacity. Good luck!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Hocky Hocky Hocky

Have you ever watched a Hocky game???

Actually I was not interested in Hocky at all. I love baseball though.

My friend invited me for a Hocky game.

It was really really good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was exciting and pleasing.

This is a scene of fighting.

When I saw this first time, I wondered

'why they fight often?they don't have to!'

I'm a typical Japanese who wants to keep quiet

and avoid difficult situations.
( not all Japanese though)

However,fighting is traditional incident in Hocky.

I watched the game and also learned Canadian culture.It was really good experience.

You are in Vancouver?Canada?

Why don't you go the Hocky game!!!!!

by Yoshi

Thursday, December 13, 2007

The Shawshank Redemption

Today I would like to say about a movie that was so impressive to me as it was long ago since release the first film. The movie title is ‘The Shawshank Redemption’.

The movie show the story that happen in a prison but The Shawshank Redemption create such a warm hold on our feelings because it makes us a member of a family. The perception of prison is usually cold, gloomy, melancholy.

I have watched the movies where Morgan Freeman appearing. The acting of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) was not bad but I like the action of Freeman showing humanism. The Morgan Freeman character is carrier of the film’s spiritual arc.

I have watched the film several times but I admire it even more than the first time I saw it.
While watching movie I always think of what is the real freedom between physical free and soul free. Although they are in prison but they had free in thinking they could dream and made a plan to escape from the prison.

In my opinion learning English is not a just acquiring knowledge by learning another language we could extend our view point and the level of understanding other culture that enable us feel free toward new environment and information as we equip another tool to proceed to the world.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

I just want to let you know....

Have you ever heard (PRODUCT) RED ?
or

Do you know about (PRODUCT) RED?

4,400 peaple die every day of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Treatment exists. And we can get pills at pharmacy easily because it is cheap for us. However, they can not buy it. Even though it costs only 30 pence......

Product Red, styled as (PRODUCT)RED, is a for-profit brand which is licensed to partner companies such as American Express, Apple Inc., Converse, Motorola, Gap, Emporio Armani and Hallmark. It is an initiative begun by U2's frontman, Bono, and Bobby Shriver of Debt AIDS Trade in Africa (DATA) to raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Bobby Shriver has been announced as the CEO of Product Red, whilst Bono is currently an active public spokesperson for the brand.
Each partner company creates a product with the Product Red logo. In return for the opportunity to increase their own revenue through the Product Red products they sell, a percentage of the profit is given to the Global Fund.

In short.....

If you like (PRODUCT) RED's goods, and if you buy it, 10% of the price goes to the Global Fund.

So you have a new goods and you helped save person's life.

It's wonderful, isn't it?

"...... people, men, women, children, Africans will die from preventable, treatable disease. They don't have to. 30 pence a day, they can stay alive. These two little pills. Two little pills that you and I can get at a local chemist's. This is mad. You are not mad to think that you can do something about this.

Go to joinred.com

Thanks"

By Bono

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-G2PpO7DwsM

(original)

You might be able to help save person's life easier than you though.

By Yukiko

How do you manage your trip plan?

From this website you can get bus, sky-train schedule and plan for trip.

http://www.translink.bc.ca/

http://www.mapquest.com/

If you drive to new place you can consult to this website that show direction and map, how to get the destination from your place.

Chungwon Jung

How do you manage your trip plan?

What was your first concern when you went foreign country. According to my experience, to go around famed tour spot you need some information of public transportation like time schedule and the feature of each vehicle. You can rent car but it is usually higher than using public transportation especially when you are student not having enough budget. I post some useful website for traffic.

http://www.translink.bc.ca/
From this website you can get bus schedule and plan for trip.

http://www.mapquest.com/
If you drive to new place you can consult to this website that show direction and map, how to get the destination from your place.

Chungwon Jung

Which features do good teachers have?

Many international students are interested in to be an English teacher in their countries recently, that's why they dicided to study overseas.
Students need to bear the loneliness and hunger for it if they want to reach their dream.

To be an English teacher, TESOL diploma or certificate is strongly required. It is a license to teach English.
The difference of TESOL from other English courses is, you can get more opportunities to speak English in the class.

For instance, for ESL course, teacher teaches and speaks more than students in gerneral and students usually complain that they don't have a chance to speak and their English never improved.

On the other hand, for TESOL course, teacher elicits students to say and prepare for a class. In short, a class is like students' reponsibility. It is very helpful for them.
TESOL course is a good rehearsal when you teach English infront of your students as Teacher.

Can students improve English? The answer is "ABSOLUTELY YES". You took the words right out of my mouth.
Before starting TESOL programme, students need to know what a good teacher is.

Let me tell you my story.

Peter Schmitter was my professor when I was at Berlin-Freie Universitaet.
He influenced me a lot, even my life.
Mr. Peter's teaching showed me what a good teacher is.

The good teacher motivates students to have their vision.
He used to ask students with this question, "Do you have a dream?" If they answered "No" or "I don't know yet, he was upset and said "It's your today homework, Go home!" The 70 year-old tried to make students pursue their dream and hope. He had an inspiration to all students.

The good teacher should be energetic, enthusiastic.
Teachers usually teach same thing repeatedly, they could be exhausted easily. If the teacher seems tired, definitely students could be tired of a class. Even though he was 70 years old, he was so powerful like young teachers.
Students absolutely respected his powerful passion.

The good teacher teaches without distinction.
It is a little bit difficult to give students same opportunities during a class, but the good teacher tries to do that.
Personally, I am German, but look Asian. Unfortunately, Germany is very famous for the discrimination in the world.
However, Mr. Peter gave me a lot of opportunities to take scholarships fairly unlike other professors. He also was willing to recommended me to a good korean university as an exchange student. When I asked to him a favor or needed his consultation, he did it like his work.
Nobody expects a discrimination from him.

The good teacher has a keen sense of humor.
Listener generally could be felt boring easily. Teachers are no exception to this. If teacher sits down on the chair and just listens somebody' speech, even teacher is going to be sleepy honestly. That's why some proper humor is necessary in the class. Humor has a mysterious power for concentration in the class.

The good teacher praises students for what they do.
Students usually could make a lot of mistakes and next time they’re going to be afraid of their mistakes. On this occasion, teacher’s praise can help them escape from a fear of mistake and then students will try to their best.

OK!
Are you ready for TESOL?
ATC's "SPECIALIZED TESOL-PROGRAM" is waiting for YOU!

By Deutschmann

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Recipe - Ichigo Daifuku (Strawberry rice cake stuffed with bean jam)

I love Ichigo Daifuku. This is one of Japanese popular sweets.
The way of making is very eazy and the taste is very good.

ingredients	Strawberries	7 pieces
(For 7 pieces of	Shiratamako(Rice flour)	100g
Ichigo Daifuku)	Sugar	100g
	Water	150cc
	Anko(Bean jam)	100g
	Katakuriko(Potato starch)	Suitable quantity

1. Divide 100g of Anko(Bean Jam) into 7 pieces, then wrap 7 pieces of strawberries with them. (Make Anko balls which have strawberries inside)

2. Put 100g of Shiratamako(Rice flour) and 100g of Sugar into a heat-resistant container, then add 150cc of water little by little and stir it until it becomes smooth.

3. Put it into a microwave and heat it for 3 minutes then stir it. And put it into a microwave again and heat it for 1 minutes then stir it. (This is the dough of Ichigo Daifuku)

4. Divide the dough into 7 pieces, then wrap 7 pieces of Anko balls with them.

5. Dust them with Katakuriko(Potato starch)

Enjoy! By Kurumi

What is your idea on teaching?

Those of you who are reading this category will have interest in teaching and some are already in service or have plan to teach in the future. If then, what is your idea on teaching. Before taking the TESOL(Teaching English to Speakers of other languages) you need to conceptualize with your own view to succeed in your study and do not be disappointed after took the program.

With my idea I think teaching is the process of knowing myself rather than conveying knowledge to the students in my class. If we do not know ourselves we could not teach anybody. Even though we can teach but there are critical absent like a empty bowl. To be a sincere teacher you try to contemplate and find yourself thereafter you can reborn as a real teacher. And, if you want to be serious in your life I strongly recommend to take TESOL program even you are not interest in being a English teacher. The program will bring you a lot of resource in your life.

We have spent almost 2007, now it is the time to warp up and to plan coming year. Whatever you do I hope you will succeed in your field. See you in the next story.

Monday, December 10, 2007

recipe-ODEN (Japanese hot pot)

It is getting cold recently.Do you know how to cook

ODEN-Japanese one pot dish?It is popular specially in winter.

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 daikon radish
2 potatoes
2 carrots
4 boiled eggs
1 blocks of konnyaku (transparent yam starch cake)
2 blocks of fried tofu (ganmodoki or atsuage)
2-4 fish cakes
4-5 tbsps of soy sauce
1 tsp of sugar
2 tbsps of sake (Japanese rice wine)
*You may use oden seasoning sold at Asian stores instead of using sake, soysauce, and sugar.

PREPARATION:
Cut daikon into thick rounds. Cut potatoes in half. Peel boiled eggs. Cut other ingredients into large pieces. Boil 4 cups of dashi soup stock in a large pot or donabe pot.

(Konbu (kelp) dashi is known as vegetarian soup stock. Removed konbu is good to cook with vegetables. )

donabe pot

Add ingredients into the pot. Add sake, soy sauce, and sugar in the pot. Turn down the heat to low and simmer for 40-60 minutes. *The longer you cook oden, the better the taste. Add dashi soup stock and soy sauce as needed.

Let't try it with Soju.

by Yoshi

27th Birthday

"ICH GRATULIERE MIR ZUM GEBURTSTAG"

Today is my 27th birthday. I am not only happy but also a little sad.

My life is running to in my thirties so fast.

People say

"For a 5 year-old child, his life goes at 5km/h and he thinks that one day is enough long to do something.

On the other hand, for a 70 year-old guy, his life flies at 70km/h and he thanks to God day-by -day.

Same time is given them and me.

My life goes at 27km/h from today.

"Thirty year-old" is a very important period for men.

Men have to decide something seriously.

For instance, for marriage, a stable job, money, house and so on.

Personally, I know that I should decide something for my life but I don't know what I start at first.

Deutschmann~! Don't be serious~"I say myself"

Thanks God~

Thanks Muti~

Thanks Vati~

Thanks my friends~

I am happy because of you^-^.

Gracias~ Danke~ ありがとうございます~ 고마워요~

By Deutschmann

Friday, December 7, 2007

Travel around Canada and the US

I have traveled around Canada and the US for 40 days by bus.

It took for more than 70 hours to get to Toronto from Vancouver by bus. When I got to Toronto, I was exhausted.

There were a lot of places to visit in Toronto. I liked CN Tower the best. It has "The Glass Floor". You can look down at the ground from 340 meters high. When I stood on the floor, I was chilled but it was fun.

Quebec was a beautiful and quiet city. There were tiny stores and restaurants along narrow streets. I found some artists were displaying their works on a narrow and short street. It was interesting.

I visited many churches in Montreal. And I was very impressed when I visited Notre-Dame Basilica. When I was a little girl, I saw a beautiful picture of the Basilica in my text book. When I entered into the Basilica, I remembered about the picture, then I felt like I was daydreaming.

I had so much fun in New York city. There are some big museums in New York city. I visited American History of Natural Museum, Moma, and Metropolitan Museum. I think all of these museums are worth visiting. Then I enjoyed seeing the famous musical "The Lion King" at Broadway. It was awesome.

Boston was a quiet city. I liked the buildings in Boston. They looked old and traditional. It was during Christmas holidays when I visited there, so most of the stores were closed unfortunately.

Miami was hot! It was a strange and interesting experience. When I got on the bus at Boston, it was freezing. And the bus went down to the South. Then I noticed that every time I got off the bus to transfer, it was getting warm and warm. When I got off the bus at Miami, it was just like summer. Many people were swimming in the beach.

I was scared all the time when I visited New Orleans. Because of the big hurricane which happened few years ago, the buildings were still broken and there were many homeless people everywhere.
I was surprised when I saw the Mississipi River. It looked like sea because it was very wide.

I passed through a long highway in Texas when I went to San Diego from New Orleans. I liked the highway. I did not see any people or animals on the highway. There were only huge ground and blue sky.

San Diego was a beautiful and peaceful city beside the sea. Old town was a very good place. I saw many old traditional buildings, stores and restaurants there.

When I visited Hollywood in Los Angeles, I found a foot print of Arnold Schwarzenegger! He is my favorite actor so I was very excited when I found it. It is my best memory in my life so far.

I enjoyed walking around inside the Pike Place Market in Seattle. There were a lot of interesting stores. And I enjoyed having a cup of coffee at the first Starbucks.

That's all. I recommend everyone to travel around Canada (and the US) by bus if you have enough time. It does not cost so much money if you use bus. I am sure you will enjoy it! I am sure it will be a great experience for you!